Excavating apparatus.



W. F. HERVEY.

EXCAVATlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1916.

Patented July 3,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI LQSQBOK INVENTUH y M g W 3 Au W. F. HERVEY,

EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mu) SEPT. 19. 1916.

Lwzfime Patented July 3, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES jgl m4 BY WILLIAM F. HEEVEY, F VTELLSBURG,(VEST VIRGINIA.

nxoavarrno arrnnarus.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented July 3, 1917..

Application filed September 19, 1916. Serial N o. 121,037.

To (1Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, WILLIAM F.Hnnvnr, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Wellsburg,county of Brooke, and State of WestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExcavating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to excavating apparatus, and morespecifically to a power-operated earth scoop or similar tool fortraction engines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an excavatingattachment fortraction engineswhereby the latterare adapted for roadbuilding, ditch digging and the like.

A further object to provide a device of the character mentioned whichmay be shifted laterally to any desired position with respect to theengine and which is adaptednot only for usein the direct line of travelof the engine, but also laterally of the latter, as for cutting ditchesat the sides of a roadway.

With these and other important objects in view, the invention resides inthe features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations ofelements whlch Wlll hereinafter be fully described, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view ofthe invention, showing an earth scoop disposed in working position; p

Fig, 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, showing a slightly modifiedform; n f

Fig. 41 is aside elevation of'the invention detached from the engine,showing the same in tool-shifting position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partially in broken section, of apower-propelled scoop;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Referring to said drawings, inwhich like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout theseveral views 1 indicates the main frame ofa traction engine which maybe of any ordinary or usual type. Rigidly mounted upon said frame atoneend thereof, which may be either the front or rear end, are suitablebrackets or supports 2 having bearing portions 2 in which is. rotatablymounted a transverse member 3., preferablyof tubular form, having endplates or bearings l'in which are journaled the opposite ends of a screwor worm 5 disposed concentrically within said member 8.

Said tubular member 3 has a longitudinal sloth extending from end toend" thereof, and movable along said slot are the handle members orsupporting arms 7 of a suitable tool, as the shovel or scoop 8. Saidsupporting arms terminate at their rear ends in gudgeons 9 which fitsnugly within the member 8 and are operatively mounted on the worm-5 sothat rotation of the latter accompzlishes lateral shifting movement ofthe scoop.

i The worm carries a sprocket wheel 10 on one end thereof, said wheelbeing connected by a chain 11 toa similar sprocket wheel 12 mounted upona countershaft 13 which is driven in a suitable manner, as by a belt 14.connected with a power driven belt-wheel 15 on theengine. Saidsprocketwheel is loosely mounted on said countershaft and is thrown intoand out of operative relation to the latter by means of asuitable'clutch, as 16. I

The tool-supporting arms are vlowered to working position and elevatedto dumping position by rotary movement of the tubular member 3, effectedthrough the intermediacy of a gearll'? fixed on said member and a drivepinion 18 carried by the countershaft 18, said gear and said pinionbeing disposed in meshing relation. The pinion is loosely mounted, onsaid countershaft and is throwninto and out of operative relation withthe latter by means of a suitable. clutch, as 19.

Provided in the gear wheel 17 is a radial slot 20 which registers withthe slot 6 in the tubular shaft 3, said slot 20 being designed to permitof the passage therethrough of the supporting arms 7 of the scoop orother tool when the latter is being shifted laterally on the worm 5.

Each of the bearing portions 2 of the supporting brackets 2 has anopening or slot 21 therein, preferably located in the top portionthereof, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 4. As is obvious, when it isdesired to shift theworking tool from an end position to a middleposition with respect to the tubular shaft, or vice versa, the lattermust be rotated to a position in which its slot 6 and the slot 20 ofgear wheel 17 register with the opening or slots 21 of the supportingbrackets 2, as shown in said figure.

In practice, when the supporting arms 7 have been adjusted to thedesired position on the worm 5, the arms 7 are lowered to dispose theshovel or scoop 8 at the desired level, whereupon forward tractionmovement of the engine will carry said scoop into the material to beexcavated or elevated. When the scoop has thus been filled, the tubularshaft 3 is rotated rearward for elevating the scoop to substantially theupright position indicated in dotted lines in Fig; 2, whereupon thecontents of said scoop are dumped, as into a chute 26 for directing.said contents to a suitably located receptacle or oonveyer (not shown).Said scoop may be of any appropriate character and is preferably soconstructed that its dumping action is automatic when the dumping pointis reached. a

' The scoop may be associated with a steam or air cylinder, as 22, shownin Figs.. 5 and 6, whereby it may be thrust forward and drawn back, inwhich case the engine may remain stationary while operating the scoopFlexible pipes, as 23 and 24, conduct the operating fluid to the powercylinder, a suitable control valve, as 25, being provided.

While I have herein shown a scoop or shovel, it will be understood thatany other appropriate form of excavating tool may be substitutedtherefor. It will further be understood that suchtool may operate eitherabove or below the level of the roadway upon which the engine travels.

One end of the tubular shaft 3 extends laterally outward a considerabledistance from the frame of the engine, as shown in Fig. 1, thus adaptingthe apparatus for use in cutting ditches at the side of the roadway uponwhich the engine travels; or, if desired, both ends of said shaft mayproject outward beyond the engine frame, as shown in Fig. 3, thusadapting the apparatus for employing the ditching tool at either side,

or both sides, of the roadway.

'What' is claimed is- 1. In earth'working apparatus, the combinationwith a traction engine, of a tubular shaft mounted transversely of saidengine at one end thereof, said shaft having a longitudinal slottherein, a concentrically disposed worm shaft extended through saidtubular shaft and having journaled ends, means for rotating said wormshaft, tool supporting arms operatively disposed on said worm shaft andextending outward through said'slot, said arms being adapted for lateralshifting movement along said slot actuated by rotation of said wormshaft, and means for imparting rotary movement to the tubular shaft forelevating and lowering said supporting arms.

2. In earth working apparatus, the comsaid tubular shaft and havingjournaled ends, means for rotating said worm shaft, tool-supporting armsoperatively disposed on said worm shaft and extending outward throughsaid slot, said arms being adapted for lateral shifting movement alongsaid slot actuated by rotation of said worm shaft, a gear'fixed on saidtubular shaft, a: countershaft, engine-driven; means for driving saidcountershaft, apinion loosely mounted on said'countershaft and disposedin mesh with said gear, and a clutch whereby said pinion is operativelyconnected to said countershaft for driving said gear. 7

3. In earth working apparatus, the combination with a traction engine,of a tubular shaft mounted transversely of said engine at one endthereof and having its ends extended outward a substantial distancebeyond the engine frame, said shaft having a longitudinal slot extendingfrom end to end thereof, a worm shaft disposed concentrically withinsaid. tubular shaft and having journaled ends, engine-driven means forrotating said worm shaft, tool-supporting arms operatively disposed onsaid worm shaft and extending outward through said slot, said arms beingadapted for lateral shifting movement along said slot actuated byrotation of said worm shaft, and means for imparting rotary movementto'said tubular shaft for elevating and lowering said supporting arms,the last-mentioned means including a gear carried by said tubular shaftand having a radial slot in register with the slot in said shaft.

4. In earth working apparatus, the co1nbination with a traction engine,of a .tubular shaft mounted transversely of said engine at one endthereof andhaving its ends extended outward a substantial distancebeyond the engine frame, said shaft having a longitudinal slotextendingfromend to end thereof, a worm shaft disposed concentricallywithin said tubular shaft and having journaled ends, engine-driven meansfor rotating said worm shaft, tool-supporting arms operatively disposedon said worm shaft and extending outward through said slot, said armsbeing adapted for lateral shifting movement along said slot actuated byrotation of said worm shaft, and clutchbination with a traction engine,of a 'wormshaft mounted transversely of said engine at one end thereofand having journaled ends, means for rotating said shaft, tool-support65 bination with atraction engine, 103? a tubuing arms .operativelydisposed on said shaft 13c and adapted for lateral shifting movement Intestimony whereof, I affix my signature by rotation of the latter, theends of said in presence of two subscribing witnesses. shaft beinextended outward a substantial distance b yond the engine frame topermit .W'ILLIAM HERVEY' said arms to occupy working positions atWitnesses:

points located laterally with respect to the S. O. W001), engine. H. E.DUNLAP.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Pat ents, Washington, D. 0.

